To ask the Minister for Communities what preparations have been made to provide support to people in areas of heightened COVID-19 restrictions.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, my Department has adopted a cross sectoral partnership approach to ensuring support is in place for the most vulnerable. This involves working closely with other Executive Departments and Local Government within the civil contingencies framework and enabling the Voluntary and Community Sector response.

Anyone in need of support, including those within the areas of heightened restrictions, can contact the COVID-19 Community Helpline (Freephone 0808 802 0020, Email: covid19@adviceni.net, Text: ACTION to 81025) which will provide personalised advice and referral to appropriate support depending on an individual’s circumstances.

In order to ensure that sustainable grassroots support is in place, my Department has confirmed an additional £1.75m for the COVID Community Support Fund, through Councils to support the Voluntary and Community Sector response to hardship created by the pandemic. We are also working with partner organisations to support and coordinate volunteering, liaising with local councils to tailor support to changing circumstances.

Improving access to food and a sustainable response to food poverty, is at the heart of my Department’s response and we have invested almost £800k to support Fareshare to deliver an increased supply of food to community food providers. We have also made a further £750k allocation to Councils for a COVID-19 Access to Food Fund. This will help deliver a more strategic response to the issue, recognising that whilst food is at the forefront of need, support and advice on wider issues is needed to reverse longer term need. This will be factored into the development of the Anti-Poverty Strategy.

It is important that financial support to meet immediate needs is in place to enable the most vulnerable to comply with restrictions. My Department has introduced a new COVID-19 living expenses grant to the Discretionary Support scheme. This grant is available where a person or any member of their immediate family is diagnosed with COVID-19 or is advised to self-isolate in accordance with published guidance.